The Queen B

Lemonade

I thought I'd give you a Saturday night report on The Status of The Palace.

(For, like, the two of you who are reading.)

We are still without power, but the generator rocks.  It is warm and I am happy.

Today was absolutely beautiful.  There was not a cloud in the sky and it was 60 degrees.  A perfect day!

I thought I'd share a few wonderful things to counter all the whining I did earlier in the week.

1.  My sweet friend, Debra and her husband drove way out of their way to bring me the best surprise ever...

How fabulous is that?!  All I'd been able to find were the less tasty version of the powdered donuts and they brought the good stuff!!!  

Thank you so much, Debra and Tom.  Your kindness really overwhelmed me.

2.  Those of you who know The King will not be surprised by this, but he has turned the devastation into a little business opportunity.  Since we weren't able to make a dime in any other way this week, he assembled some very talented family members and created a yard clean-up/tree trimming gig.  He's already on his fourth house. He is such a hard worker and great provider.  I am really proud of him for helping others clean up their mess and making a little money to cover our losses from the week.

3.  We've been able to reconnect with some neighbors this week.  Any time an event of this magnitude takes place, there is a special bond that is formed from neighbor helping neighbor.

4.  The complaining has been non-existent.  I haven't heard a single grumble toward the power companies.  We've not really SEEN them anywhere, but no one is complaining.  I'm sure they are working as hard as they can and are beyond exhausted.

5.  We will not be running out of firewood for quite some time.

6.  This mess looks much better in a pile and not all over the yard!

 

7.  And finally, this little bit of scrumptiousness does not require an oven.

Thank you again for the prayers and patience as I went on and on and on about ICE STORM 2009 this week.

(And yes.  I am very aware that I made fun of the presumption of calling it ICE STORM 2009.  I now feel that it is more appropriately named ICE STORM OF THE CENTURY.)

I am so sorry that I wasn't able to respond to each of your sweet comments or spend time reading your blogs this week.  I've missed it.

Hopefully, I'll be back on Monday with power and something more fun than the weather.

A Girl's Best Friend

Forget diamonds.

Guess what The King bought me today?

It may be my all-time favorite gift.

In fact, I think that it IS my all-time favorite gift.

He bought me my very own generator.

Isn't that the sweetest thing ever?

When the temperature in our house stalled at 48 degrees this morning, The King finally had enough.

I'd had enough at 60 degrees, but that's beside the point.

Another night sleeping on the wood floor would have sent me over the edge.

I couldn't really sleep, though, because I was constantly having to be sure that the burning logs weren't falling out of the fireplace and into our blankets.

The Princess began to run a little fever again.

The animals were staging a revolt.

And The King won't admit it, but he was cold.

Oh, and we heard that it may be MID-FEBRUARY before our power is restored.

I am so very, very thankful that we were able to find and afford a generator.  I know there are many families who are not able to do that.

I feel incredibly blessed.

I told The Princess that having our heat on makes me feel as if I'm the wealthiest girl in the world.

We are able to run our heater and a few lights.  Luxuries, y'all.  Absolute luxuries.

The only way I could justify the purchase of the generator was to know that I will be able to bless another family with it someday in their time of need.

Thank you a million times for the sweet comments, emails and (especially) the prayers.

It put so many things in our lives in perspective.

I mean, really, Guatemala's got nothing on this.

I thought I'd leave you with a link to a news story about our neighborhood.  The devastation is incredible.  Let's keep praying for quick restoration of power...

The Spirit Of Adventure Is Beginning To Fade

Ugh.

Have I ever mentioned how much I don't like to camp?

Well.  I don't.

And living in a 56 degree house without power is awfully close to camping.

The only radio we have is a crank start.  The only stations it picks up are one that plays Kathie Lee Gifford 24/7 and another that has the saddest country songs known to man.

We went with the saddest country songs known to man.

But they've put me in a funk.

The dogs are fretting and pacing. 

The cats are sleeping all day and terrorizing us at night.

The Princess is feeling better.  And boredom has DEFINITELY set in...

The King cut some firewood out of the trees in our yard.

I am worrying that our chimney is going to burn down.

The power company is saying it might be a week.

A WEEK.

I need paper plates and cups.

And more donuts.  The King apparently scarfed them in the night.

Here are a few pictures.

I don't care if you don't want to see them. 

Look anyway. 

I'm cold.

This is my very favorite pink dogwood tree.  That nasty old pine tree fell on her and split her right down the middle.

 

Looking out our back window...

Between those two evergreens used to be about 3 or 4 very tall trees.  Until today, you couldn't have looked through that space.  And who knew we had that one tree that looks like it belongs in Whoville?

Never knew that cell tower was behind our house.  Seriously.  We never knew.

This picture is looking from our garage down the driveway toward the street.  

Front yard damage.

Another yard shot.

This is a beautiful Japanese maple right in front our our house.

We have a circle drive, and this is the other side of the driveway.

If nobody else looked at the photos, at least maybe my mom will see them and feel guilty while she basks in the Florida sun.

Also, I hope that any of you that have been affected by this storm are safe and warm.

I'll be back tomorrow unless I freeze or run away.

This Is Not So Very Much Fun

That title would be a direct quote of The Princess.

The King's given me 5 minutes with the wireless card.

We've been without power since 1:00 p.m. Tuesday.  It is not supposed to be back on until Saturday.

THAT IS NOT GOOD, PEOPLE.

We are currently sitting in the dark, listening to all of our trees break and fall.

It's comforting.

I will try to take pictures of serious natural destruction tomorrow...if The King will allow me the privilege of using the wireless card and computer.

I'd say it's 50/50 right now.

Here are the positives:

We have hot water.

We have Diet Mountain Dew.

We have a fireplace.

We don't have much firewood, but unfortunately, we have 147 trees down in our yard and The King has a saw.

We have blankets.

We have those little white powdered donuts.

Our toilets flush.

The three of us are hanging out together.

I'm looking on the bright side, don't you think?

If I don't freeze overnight, I'll be back tomorrow...

It's As If I've Been Given A Second Chance

This is gonna be quick. 

You know ICE STORM 2009?  

Which, by the way, is such a pet peeve.  We are 27 days into 2009.  How could we possibly know if this is THE ice storm of 2009?

Anyway.

I did not take the predictions of ICE STORM 2009 seriously enough.  That whole El-Queen B-o thing, and all...

But it is here.  And it is for real.

(My mom is soaking in the rays in Florida and I am frozen in the tundra.  Nice.)

At midnight last night, we heard a transformer blow, and knew we were in for it. Our power went off at 6 a.m. and came back on about 9 a.m.

Just long enough for me to begin making a mental list of all the things that I should have done to prepare.

(Top of list: Buy a generator.)

So now I feel as if I've been given another shot at the preparation.

The King has a meeting and I'm sending him with a list.

(Who schedules meetings in the middle of ICE STORM 2009?) 

(Oh yeah... The KIng.)

We need batteries and peanut butter and firewood and DIET MOUNTAIN DEW, for pete's sake, and charged cell phones and bread and extra Tylenol and Motrin and cat litter and dog food and the towels need to be out of the washer and into the dryer and paper plates and cups and chocolate and a battery-powered hair dryer...

It is just a matter of time until it goes off again.  I have heard two transformers go down in the last 15 minutes.

By the way, The Princess does not have strep.  She has some funky virus with ginormous sores in her little mouth.  She's still running a really high fever.  It got up to 105.4 yesterday.  Right now we're holding at 102.1.  (Note to self:  when sick child says her mouth hurts, you might want to look inside the mouth.)

I hope that you all stay warm and with power.  

I'm off to charge all of the battery-powered electronic things...

Here are a few pictures of the ice.  

And my favorite...the electric pole.  With the lines seriously sagging.

The Palace Is Not At Its Best

Y'all.  It's been a long weekend.

A.  Science Fair Project due tomorrow.  It is such a humongous undertaking that I cannot even put it into words quite yet.

B.  The house sale hit a snag over the weekend.  It is such a frustrating thing that I cannot even put it into words quite yet.

C.  The Princess is really sick.  We went to the doctor on Friday and were given an antibiotic for strep throat.  But she is worse now than she was on Friday.  Her temperature has been back and forth from 101 to 105 all weekend.  

Scary stuff.

We're going back to the doctor today.

I hope that your weekend was terrific, though.  Tell me something wonderful that will make me happy.

Seriously.

Getting To Know You

So you might have heard that I'm going to Guatemala?

I know I'm over-discussing it.  But that's what I do.

I want y'all to learn a little more about The Carney's, our friends who'll be moving there.

So I interviewed them.  

My mental picture of missionaries has always been a bit unrealistic.  I picture a man similar to Billy Graham who has one pair of pants and three shirts.  His wife is Mother Theresa and shuns all things of beauty.

Well.  Maybe my mental picture isn't THAT extreme, but it's close.

The Carney's are just regular.  And I mean that it the nicest way.

Here's a taste...

QB:  Jason, I heard you mention that our trip is just two months from now.  Totally freaked me out and I'm only going for a few days.  Have you had moments of complete freak out?

Jason:  Not because of travel.  I love being all over the world.  But I have freaked out because I am moving there.

QB:  Not because I'm enjoying that answer or anything, but will you be more specific about your moments of freaking?  

Jason:  Kids getting kidnapped or killed; food issues; no date night for Lacey and I ever again; family time is now with 80 instead of 6; hurricanes approaching and no funds to get back to the States if necessary; earthquakes; volcanoes; my kids not getting to be in sports like they would here...

QB:  Ok, ok, ok.  But you forgot mudslides.  I'm worrying about mudslides.  

Jason:  Great.  Add that one because they have them all during the rainy season...and add that while you're at it because the rainy season lasts 6 months!

QB:  Lacey, I don't know if anyone has mentioned this to you or not, but you are moving to an orphanage in a third world country.  Now I love kids as much as the next gal, but have you lost your mind?

Lacey:  Yes.  I guess I did lose my mind to God.  I surrendered and said whatever, whenever and apparently He took me seriously!  Who'd a thought?

QB:  Will you briefly explain what y'all are going to be doing at Casa?

Jason:  We are going to be in charge of their baby dorm.  Basically, we become the mom and dad for roughly 80 kids.

QB:  24 hours a day?  Will you ever get a break?  How much help will you have?

Jason:  We will have 15 Guatemalan staff that will be there to help us...only one has any experience, but I might consider that a good thing.  They all run different shifts, but in the end we still have full responsibility 24/7.   We are their parents from now on...Mom and Dad!!

QB:  Lacey, what are your boys going to do about school?

Lacey:  The plan is for them to attend a Christian school about 15 to 20 minutes away.  We actually got to tour the school and meet the principal and some other staff a few months ago.

QB:  Just so everyone has a clear picture of who we're dealing with, I'd like to point out that you love clothes as much as any male I've ever known.  Dude, what are you going to do about that?

Jason:  Figured that out a LONG time ago!  Abercrombie and Fitch, Gap and American Eagle are made in Guatemala so I can buy those for next to nothing.  I thought I was really going to have a problem with this.

QB:  I knew you'd figure something out.  Lacey, what are you going to do about your house, cars, personal stuff, etc.?  Do you know what you are going to be taking with you?

Lacey:  I know that I don't plan on leaving without my shoes, my Razorback stuff, pictures, Jason and the boys.  That was in no particular order, by the way.  That's what I know for sure.  We'll probably rent our house to my sister-in-law.  We plan on selling one car and keeping one for when we are here, but our plans don't always seem to be God's plan.  We'll have to sell the other big things in a garage sale or estate sale...kind of unwillingly.  And yes, I know that is very vain.

QB:  What is your housing situation while you are there?

Jason:  About half the size of what we have here...and not really what you'd consider a vacation villa.  We hope to be able to find the funds to remodel if we can.  I would like my family to be as comfortable as possible even though this will be a huge culture shock.

QB:  Is your apartment literally in the baby dorm?

Jason:  Yes.  We will have a door going directly into the nursery and our front door isn't in a nice, groomed yard but is in the baby dorm itself.

QB:  What about your current job?  Will you be able to work up until you leave?

Jason:  Yes.  I'll work up until we leave and then I'm hoping to bless someone else with that job.

QB:  What do your families think about this?

Jason:  Lacey's family is all for it.  My family can't get over missing their 4 grandsons, so they are constantly at near heart attack status.

QB:  Lacey, what do your boys think about this?

Lacey:  Most days they are excited and can hardly wait.  I am trying to see it from their point of view...I would be thrilled if I were 10, 7 or 6 and about to move where there are endless friends 24/7!

QB:  What are you going to do about withdrawal from Sonic?

Lacey:  I am praying that my dreams at night of footlong coneys and Sonic ice will be so vivid that it will quench the withdrawals.  If I start getting shaky or night sweats I'll IM you.  It shouldn't take more than 2 weeks to ship, right?  Do they have Sonic Addicts Recovery Groups?  You should tell The King...that might be a new business direction for him.

QB:  Do you ever feel like you wish you'd never started down this road?

Jason:  At times, yes.  When I hear some of what people say about us.  But then God assures me through His word that this is His plan for His kingdom and we are blessed to be a part of it!

QB:  Elaborate!  What are people saying?  I need to know these things.

Jason:  People say things like:  Why are you leaving?  Are you crazy?  What are you hiding from?  Have you really changed?  Has God really called you?  Your are stupid for taking your kids to another country out of these comforts.  I could never do what you are doing.  Maybe you better wait a few years or more until you really know...I guess they are basically saying don't go until THEY know God is calling us. That is crazy.

QB:  I do think some people in your world were REALLY surprised when you made this decision.  Have you gotten 100% support from friends and family?

Jason:  No, but most everyone is supportive.  I asked my best friend why he hasn't really said much as far as support.  His response was something like why would he want his best friend to leave the country.  He was being real and I guess that made me feel better in a way.

QB:  Lacey, what are your financial needs...how are you planning on meeting those?

Lacey:  We are trying to raise money for our living expenses in Guatemala,  our vehicle, car and health insurance, the boys' school, food, etc.  We will also have to raise money for some of our things here unless God sends someone to buy our house and other things that would lower our monthly expenses.  Our vision is to someday--and the sooner the better--completely support Los Angelitos' needs, as well. (Los Angelitos is the baby dorm.)

QB:  Lacey, have you ever felt like this is not what you signed up for when you married Jason?

Lacey:  I feel like I didn't sign up for a lot of things when it comes to Jason!  This just happens to be one of the biggies.  I know that it is really not his doing, though.  It is God's, so I'll give him a little slack.

QB:  Looking back, is missions something you've always been interested in?  Or did you run screaming and crying from Mission Friends like I did?  

Jason:  I have always wanted to help kids in need, but I really wanted to do that while living in my comfortable world where freedom is given to us....not in a third world country.

Lacey:  I did have a little-and I mean LITTLE- interest in missions when I was growing up.  I am pretty sure it was because of social reasons, though, if I'm honest with myself.  When I was 11 or 12 our youth group went to Mexico.  I was the youngest and wasn't allowed to go.  I hated it and felt like I was going to miss out on something or someone.  Again, I am pretty sure it was social or maybe because of a certain boy that was going or something.  As I got older, it was the farthest thing from my agenda.  I even said the big "never".  Ooooppppps.  Someday I will learn to never say never.

QB:  Have I ever told you that I used to pray for God to NEVER call me into missions?

Jason:  Yes, I heard something about that.  Did I ever tell you that I used to pray for God to give me a really big, nice home and lots of stuff?  

QB makes a face.

QB:  Lacey, how often will you come back to Arkansas?

Lacey:  As often as God and finances allow.  I have heard, though, that Casa will become my home and that the feeling of being disoriented will pass with time.  

QB:  Is there any way for me to ditch the trip at this point?

Jason:  Sure.  God allows us to make our own decisions in life.  I can tell you this, it will be a decision that you'll live with for the rest of your life.

Lacey:  NO, NO and NOPE.  What's the Spanish word for NO????  Como se dice NO in espanol?

QB:  Well that is not what I wanted to hear.  What are you going to make me do while I'm there?

Jason:  I am not going to make you do anything.  You will have the chance to impact kids' lives, as well as work on your own, while God works on your heart for missions and orphans.

QB wants to make a face again.

QB:  Do they have Diet Mountain Dew?

Jason:  YES!!!

I hope you see them as I do.  They are a wonderfully normal family who is sacrificing for the sake of the call.  Please keep them in your prayers.

If you have any questions for them, they would love to answer.  You can contact them through their website.

I have their Only Grace button on my blog...if you'd like to support them by placing it on yours, just email me and I'll send it to you.

Have a wonderful weekend!

A Really Great Guy Is Turning A Year Older

I haven't really posted much about my dad.

Mostly because he only reads my blog once a quarter. 

He and I are a lot alike.

We are both highly emotional and dramatic creatures with a propensity for perfectionism.

Or we're both moody and difficult.  Whichever you prefer.

Today is my dad's birthday.

And I am really proud of him.

Dad's life has undergone some serious changes in the last few years.

He has handled them with grace and dignity.

(Except for those few dramatic moments where he proved moody and difficult.)

One of the changes has been his career.

My dad was a high school football coach until I was in the 9th grade.  Sports is his passion and he had a lot of success as a coach.  

It is not uncommon to be somewhere with Dad and he'll be approached by a middle aged man who recognizes him as Coach.  The greeting will be followed by stories of what a tremendous influence Dad had on that person's life.  

After coaching, Dad began working in a family business. 

This might be a good place to point out that I am not an advocate of family business.  The end.

He remained at that business for about 18 years.

Recently, he began looking for a new career.

The job market is not a welcoming place for 50-something men.

My dad is incredibly talented.  He is THE BEST people person that I know.

But nobody wants to hire a 50-something man.

He was too experienced.  (What the heck is that?)

A really smart investment firm saw the potential in him.  Dad didn't have any experience in the financial world, but they saw a hard worker with phenomenal people skills who was willing to learn.

And they hired him.

Now when I say that Dad had no experience in the financial world, I am so not exaggerating.

He began a VERY rigorous study program that has often involved 16 hour days at a computer.

Learning and testing, learning and testing.  

All of this was in preparation for The Big Test.

The Big Test is a one shot deal on which you must make a 70.  

No second chance.

On Tuesday he took The Big Test.

Six grueling hours.

AND HE DID GREAT!

 

I know how hard it must be to learn something new as you get older.

He has sacrificed so much time in preparation for this test and this job.

I am so very proud of him.

Happy Birthday, Dad.  I love you so much.

Especially your dramatic flair and tendencies toward emotion and perfectionism.

Friendship Rocks

Yesterday, a few girls from our Bible Study took a field trip.

Well, not really.  We went the the mall.

One of our member's husband just got a new swanky lawyer job and she's got to go to some swanky lawyer job required events.

Which makes me really, really glad that The King will never have to attend anything swanky.  

In fact, the thought of The King and me at something swanky throws me into immediate fits of laughter.

Just keepin' it real.

Jennifer is adorable.  And not to embarrass her or anything, but prior to yesterday, I've never carried the sizes XS, 2 or 4 to a dressing room.

Jules was the fashion consultant.  Debra was the cheerleader.  

I just knocked a lot of stuff off the racks with my coat, purse and flailing arms.

And I'd like to take a moment to give a shout out to the Dillard's workers who NEVER ASKED US IF THEY COULD HELP US.  Not once.  Ever.  In 2 1/2 hours.

It was such a fun day and reminded me of how important friends are in our lives.

Isn't that just what friendship is about?  We all combined our strengths to make Jennifer look and feel her best.

Jules is an expert in all things beautiful, and she made Jennifer look lovely and confident.

Debra is the ultimate encourager and 100% authentic.  Her nod of approval made Jennifer's confidence soar.

I just knocked a lot of of stuff off the racks with my coat, purse and flailing arms.

Look around for a friend in need.  It doesn't have to be an enormous gesture.  

Just think of something that you can do for someone to make them feel their best.

It was just as much fun for us as it was for Jennifer.  

Maybe more fun, since we didn't have to buy the clothes.

(Or go to the swanky events.)

Everything Old Is New Again

I really don't have anything new or interesting to share.

Not that old or boring has ever held me back.

I think I'll just catch you up on some previously discussed (doesn't that sound better than old?) items. 

A.  Yesterday's comments about my beverage dilemma proves to me that y'all are a heck of a lot healthier than I am.  

This is my take away:

Water is water no matter what is squeezed into it.

Fresca is a potential option.

Does a little juice added to water not taste like watered down juice?

Drinking less is much better than drinking none.

I really, really like Diet Mountain Dew.

There will be no Diet Mountain Dew in Guatemala.

I'll keep you posted on my progress.

B.  The Science Fair project is due a week from today.  Assuming that I haven't run away, it will be one of the greatest days of my life.

C.  The Guatemala trip is becoming a bit more real.  We are planning our fundraisers.  The passports should be here any day.

We have to get the shots.

That's all I am saying about that today.

D.  We looked at land for TWELVE hours this past weekend.  The majority of those TWELVE hours consisted of me going, "Oh NO.  You are NOT moving me there. I cannot under any circumstances live THERE."

And The King going, "It's not that bad.  It's just rural.  I mean, we do live in Arkansas".

I'm all about living in the rural.  I look forward to the rural.

But 10 chickens sitting on an upside down rusted car that has a toilet propped up against it does not qualify.

I soon came to the conclusion that: if I like it, I can't afford it; if I love it, it is not available; If it is available, it is really close to chicken houses.

I'm totally not stressing, though.  I know that God has the perfect place for us.

E.  I am listening to The King quiz The Princess for her Latin test.  He is trying to ask her the meaning of the Latin word "mater".  It is pronounced kind of like we would say the brand Mattel.  But with an R instead of an L. 

Only The King just asked her the meaning of "mater" pronounced like the truck on the movie, Cars.

Maybe we do belong in the rural.